Proverbs 14:2

Proverbs 14:2 "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."

This is one of those proverbs where we see another obvious “good versus evil” and almost disregard it entirely as applicable to the Christian.  It is easy to see the many Bible verses that pit the righteous versus the wicked as obvious statements for which nothing needs to be learned.  It's almost too natural for the Christian to assume he is always "the good" whenever "the good" is contrasted with "the evil."  In this proverb's case, rarely does the New Testament believer consider the possibility that he could be the one described as being "perverse in his ways."  For some reason, there is this Christian tendency to automatically place ourselves on the righteous side of any Biblical contrast and as a result, disregard that Biblical statement as anything that we have to seriously consider.  This proverb was not written exclusively for the perverse.  This statement was not intended to applaud the upright nor was it intended to condemn the perverse.  This wise saying was intended to instruct all parties on the reason for their moral outcome.  Solomon wasn't addressing any particular moral group - he was teaching all groups of people why some become upright and why others become perverse.  Christian or not, this statement is for everyone.  Upright or perverse, this simple sentence is applicable for all people.  As with all the proverbs, we are to read this one looking for the lesson, not just for the side we belong to.  

So rather than picking moral sides for ourselves, let's wisely learn what picks which side of the moral aisle for us.  According to Solomon, is it will-power?  Is it religious upbringing?  Is it spiritual ambition?  Is it a 12-step program?  No, it is none of these things.  According to this proverb, how we look in God's eyes is the direct result of how we look at God with our eyes.  The determining factor of our morality is how we view God.  If a man appears upright before God, then it can be determined that that man looked up to God in holy reverence.  If a man appears perverse before God, then it can be determined that that man looked down on God in unholy irreverence.  Just as the upright are contrasted with the perverse, fearing God is contrasting with despising God.  And this is why it is easy for Christians to subtly render this proverb inapplicable to themselves - "we don't DESPISE God!"  "We don't hate God!  We may not always love Him like we should but we would never ABHOR God."  But this is precisely why we need to stop and deeply digest the instruction found in each proverb.

To "despise" God does NOT need to mean the kind of hatred that results in total disregard or utter rejection.  It would be easy but foolish to assume that those who despise God are only those who are angry or bitter with God.  It would be quite wrong to conclude that perversion is the outcome of only those who hate God vehemently.  Because despising God is contrasted with fearing God, we must define it in relation to fearing God.  To fear God is to revere God or to LOOK UP to God in awe and esteem.  Therefore, to despise God should be accurately defined then as LOOKING DOWN on God with a lack of awe and esteem.  That is precisely what the word means in this proverb.  In fact, the English word "despise" originates from the combination of Latin words, "de," which means "down" and "specere," which means "look at."  To despise someone is no more complicated and no more emotional than simply but sadly looking down on someone.  One doesn't need to deny God's existence to end up perverse in his ways.  One doesn't need to loathe God's presence to end up morally twisted.  One doesn't even need to resent God to become perverse in his ways.  A person only has to LOOK DOWN on God as anything less than He is and the consequence will be morally devastating.

How we look at God determines how we look in life.  How we view God has the most profound influence on what we end up looking like, morally-speaking.

A born-again Christian can just as easily become perverse in his ways as a Christ-denying atheist.  A church going believer can just as easily become twisted in his religion as a bar-hopping agnostic.  Religious discipline alone doesn't produce uprightness - it's all about how a person consistently and sincerely views God.  Consider what God said to the priests of Judaism through the prophet Malachi, "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that DESPISE my name" (1:6).  God justly accused these practicing priests of "despising" His name and yet, their entire lives were devoted to the service of God.  He wasn't accusing drunkards, atheists, fornicators and the worst of society of "despising" Him - He was accusing those who were religiously disciplined and substantially active in serving Him of "despising" Him.  The balance of His message to the priests through Malachi explains why He was accusing them of "despising" Him. "And ye say, Wherein have we DESPISED thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts" (1:7-8).  God accused these lifelong priests of "despising" Him because they simply but mistakenly didn't take the details of His commands seriously.  The details of God's commands and expectations for worship weren't that important.  They didn't disregard His commands since they were still offering sacrifices - they just didn't revere His commands since they weren't offering sacrifices precisely as God commanded.  They became perverse or twisted in their service to God all because they didn't see God as large and lofty as they should've.  They didn't see Him as irrelevant or insignificant but they didn't see Him for Who He truly was.  They didn't see God as tiny but they tragically didn't see God high and lifted up.  They mistakenly viewed God the same way they viewed themselves, as accepting of something less than the best.  They thought that God wouldn't care too much if they didn't offer a flawless sacrifice because they figured He would see the best in people and that He would take what He could get from people.  Their view of God led to their perversion before God.

When processing this proverb with the principle it teaches in mind, it becomes incredibly applicable.  When we choose to assemble with the brethren when and only when it's convenient, we have to rightly conclude that that is the direct result of us not taking God and His word more seriously, or should we say, not viewing God more loftily.  When we speak to our spouses with insult, disrespect or unlovingly, we must conclude that it is the direct result of not seeing God more highly.  When we refuse to give Him the first-fruits, we must conclude that it is only because we don't value God's word, which is another way of saying we disregard it as that important.  That is precisely the definition of LOOKING DOWN on something, which is what it means to DESPISE something.  Bible-believing, born-again believers can have too low of a view of God and if we do, it will always result in twisted ways.  This proverb isn't about picking sides - it's about understanding our view of God is what determines our way of life.

How big is God to you?  How high do you view Him?  If a detail matters to Him, does it matter to you?  If something bothers Him, does it bother you?  OR if a detail matters to Him, do you roll your eyes concluding He shouldn't be so picky?  If something bothers Him, do you shrug your shoulders convinced that He's just too uptight?  Anytime we think what God thinks isn't that important, we're LOOKING DOWN on His mindset and that is the dangerous act of despising Him.  Anytime we think what God thinks is incredibly important, we're LOOKING UP to Him and that is the honorable act of fearing Him.  That difference truthfully and boldly is the difference between living an upright life and living a perverse life.
 
How you look at God will determine how you look in life.